Wound dressing with vacuum reservoir

Abstract

A wound dressing apparatus includes a wound dressing member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed. The wound dressing member including an internal vacuum reservoir and has a port in communication with the vacuum reservoir for applying subatmospheric pressure to the vacuum reservoir to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound bed. The wound dressing member includes a visual pressure indicator associated therewith for indicating a level of pressure within the vacuum reservoir. The visual pressure indicator includes color indicia having a plurality of colors corresponding to a condition of the pressure within the vacuum reservoir. The wound dressing member includes a lower absorbent member positionable adjacent the wound bed and an upper member which at least partially defines the vacuum reservoir. At least one of the top member and the lower absorbent member has the visual pressure indicator mounted thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wound dressing apparatus for use in negative pressure wound therapy, the wound dressing apparatus comprising:
 a wound dressing, the wound dressing comprising:
 a wound contact layer configured to be in direct contact with a wound; 
 a wound cover layer configured to be positioned over the wound, wherein the wound cover layer defines an internal vacuum reservoir when the wound cover layer is positioned over the wound; and 
 an absorbent layer positioned between the wound contact layer and the wound cover layer; and 
 
 a visual indicator configured to indicate a condition of the wound dressing, wherein the visual indicator comprises one or more light emitting sources positioned within a periphery of the wound cover layer of the wound dressing. 
 
     
     
       2. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a color indicator. 
     
     
       3. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump configured to provide negative pressure to the reservoir. 
     
     
       4. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum pump is configured to be positioned external to the wound cover layer. 
     
     
       5. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum pump comprises a manual pump. 
     
     
       6. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum pump comprises a compressible suction device. 
     
     
       7. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum pump comprises an automated pump. 
     
     
       8. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive material on an underside of the wound cover layer to contact tissue surrounding the wound. 
     
     
       9. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive material comprises an annular layer positioned on a peripheral portion of the wound cover layer. 
     
     
       10. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises a super absorbent polymer and a fibrous material. 
     
     
       11. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the fibrous material comprises cellulose. 
     
     
       12. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum port on the wound cover layer in fluid communication with the internal vacuum reservoir. 
     
     
       13. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a flexible tubing configured to connect the vacuum port to a vacuum pump. 
     
     
       14. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is configured to indicate a condition within the vacuum reservoir associated with a negative pressure level or a leak in the wound dressing. 
     
     
       15. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic signaling module circuit board and a battery power source in electrical communication with the visual indicator. 
     
     
       16. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wound cover layer is transparent, and the visual indicator is configured to be viewed through the transparent wound cover layer. 
     
     
       17. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of different visual indicia. 
     
     
       18. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting sources for different conditions. 
     
     
       19. The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting sources of different colors.